What is the congestion tax that Bengaluru is considering to reduce traffic?

A proposal to charge drivers entering Bengaluru through nine roads during peak hours with a congestion fee is believed to be being considered by the Karnataka government. The plan, according to a report in The Times of India, is part of a recently published extensive report titled Karnataka’s Decade - Roadmap to $1 Trillion Economy. In partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the planning, program monitoring, and statistics department produced the analysis. It also offers suggestions for various fields, including manufacturing, tourism, urban development, startups, and the growth of Bengaluru. Here’s everything we know about it. Also read: Is carpooling banned in Bengaluru? What is congestion tax? The main focus of the report is dealing with the worsening city’s traffic congestion. It suggests that enacting a congestion fee may reduce the amount of time it takes for delivery trucks, autos, and buses to travel. A congestion tax resembles a cost that drivers must pay when they enter particular areas of a city, often during rush hour. By charging this tax, the government hopes to ease certain areas’ traffic congestion, according to CNBC-TV18. Deccan Herald reports that the research suggests imposing a congestion fee on the following roads: Ballari Road, Tumakuru Road, Magadi Road, Mysuru Road, Kanakpura Road, Bannerghatta Road, Hosur Road, Old Madras Road, and Old Airport Road. Also read: Bengaluru Bandh: Why city will see over 7 lakh vehicles remain off the road today Why is it being considered? The main objective is to educate drivers on the costs associated with peak-hour traffic congestion on roads. This strategy has also proven effective in lowering air pollution and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. According to a report published last month, Bengaluru suffers a loss of close to Rs 20,000 crore annually as a result of traffic congestion on the city’s roads. NDTV cited research undertaken by traffic expert M N Sreehari as stating that due to traffic delays, congestion, stoppages at signals, time loss, fuel loss, and other related reasons, India’s Silicon Valley lost Rs 19,725 crore annually. According to a Deccan Herald, traffic congestion costs about 1.2 crore people 60 crore person-hours and nearly 2.8 lakh litres of fuel every year. Congestion charges have in the past met backlash in Indian cities, yet other internationally major cities, like London, Stockholm, and Singapore, have successfully implemented such initiatives. Next year, it might be implemented in New York as well. How it can help the city? Residents of Bengaluru constantly suffer due to overwhelming traffic in the city. Thus, imposing a congestion tax might be a solution. This charge would deter people from using their own cars, which would ease traffic. [caption id=“attachment_13203152” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] The city had severe traffic jams on multiple routes on 27 September, which created hours-long lines of backed-up vehicles. PTI[/caption] Everyone’s travel time will likely be shortened and made more convenient, and the air quality will benefit. Congestion tax would increase the cost of driving and, as a result, increase commuters’ interest in using public transportation. Also read: Traffic Woes: How Bengaluru's vehicular congestion has led to a loss of nearly Rs 20,000 crore How will it be imposed? According to Times Now, Bengaluru’s FASTag system, which has been in use since 2021, may be utilised to collect the congestion charge. The authorities might set up checkpoints with cameras to take pictures of vehicles as they pass through, at key entrances to major areas. Then, just like with traffic challans, the congestion tax can be collected from the owners of the vehicles. Also read: Why is everyone talking about Bengaluru's traffic jam? What went wrong? What are experts saying? Bengaluru must first improve bus, metro, and auto coverage before enacting the tax, a transport planning expert told Deccan Herald, “so that if people want to leave their cars behind, they feel inconvenienced.” A tax regime is only effective, according to Pawan Mulukutia of the World Resources Institute (WRI), India, when the tax is high enough for people to be conscious of it and when ample public transport options are available. Sathya Sankaran, Bengaluru’s bicycle mayor, claims that the city needs more footpaths, cycling tracks, and TenderSure roads. He claims that the problem cannot be solved by just discouraging four-wheelers. Sankaran has also advocated for putting a parking fee on cars parked on city streets in addition to the congestion levy. These experts agree that any funds raised must be reinvested into the system to reduce traffic jams. “Potholes need to be fixed.” According to Pawan, who oversees WRI India’s integrated transport and mobility initiative, junctions need to be signalised and lanes should be equally extended. Why is the infamous traffic in the news again? The city had severe traffic jams on multiple routes on 27 September, which created hours-long lines of backed-up vehicles. The Outer Ring Road (ORR), a tech corridor, was the hardest hit, with commuters reporting five-hour traffic jams there. “There was a huge number of vehicles on the road. As there was a bandh on Tuesday, it had a cascading effect, with more employees coming to the office on Wednesday. With the long weekend also coming up, the outflux and influx of traffic was very high. The congestion, which would usually take an hour to clear, took over 1.5 hours today (Wednesday),” Kuldeep Kumar Jain, DCP (Traffic), East Division, was quoted as saying by The Hindu. In the evening, traffic got heavier as workers began to leave in anticipation of the five-day long weekend. In contrast to prior Wednesdays, the number of vehicles increased on 27 September, according to the Bengaluru traffic police department. On Wednesdays, there are typically 1.5 to 2 lakh automobiles on the road; as of 7:30 pm last Wednesday, the number had risen to 3.5 lakh. With inputs from agencies